LA Unified School District suspends iPad deal, faces accusations that officials had close ties with

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  • Reply 21 of 86
    rob53rob53 Posts: 3,348member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by SpamSandwich View Post



    Students and their families should be paying for their own computers. In LA, the problem is simply that most students cannot read or write, never mind the technology aspect. Public schools are a mismanaged disaster. Shut them all down and get private companies in there to compete for students instead. What a bloody politicized mess.

    Do you really think private schools would be better managed or that students would get a better education? Of course some students would but those are already in private schools financed by the 1%'ers. Free public schools in the US are guaranteed by our constitution but as usual are not supported with the kind of assistance they need. It starts with parents who need to do the majority of parenting instead of expecting public schools to do the parenting. Remember, private schools can expel students for any reason and at any time. They aren't held to the same rules and regulations public schools are. As with any public institution, there will be problems, corruption, and things just won't work. This happens in private institutions and corporations as well but we don't always hear about them. As for LA students not being able to read or write, here's the 2013 STAR CST test results. This district has over 400K students. Please compare them to a school district near you.

     

    http://star.cde.ca.gov/star2013/ViewReport.aspx?ps=true&lstTestYear=2013&lstTestType=C&lstCounty=19&lstDistrict=64733-000&lstSchool=&lstGroup=1&lstSubGroup=1

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  • Reply 22 of 86
    We are in Illinois, our kids will be getting their own iPads from the school (K-12) next week.
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  • Reply 23 of 86
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by rob53 View Post

     

    Do you really think private schools would be better managed or that students would get a better education? Of course some students would but those are already in private schools financed by the 1%'ers. Free public schools in the US are guaranteed by our constitution but as usual are not supported with the kind of assistance they need. It starts with parents who need to do the majority of parenting instead of expecting public schools to do the parenting. Remember, private schools can expel students for any reason and at any time. They aren't held to the same rules and regulations public schools are. As with any public institution, there will be problems, corruption, and things just won't work. This happens in private institutions and corporations as well but we don't always hear about them. As for LA students not being able to read or write, here's the 2013 STAR CST test results. This district has over 400K students. Please compare them to a school district near you.

     

    http://star.cde.ca.gov/star2013/ViewReport.aspx?ps=true&lstTestYear=2013&lstTestType=C&lstCounty=19&lstDistrict=64733-000&lstSchool=&lstGroup=1&lstSubGroup=1


    Apple can choose not to sell iPads to anyone "for any reason and at any time", but they have an economic incentive to sell to everyone. Public schools, on the other hand, profits via taxation (you can't choose not to give them money), thus have no such incentive.

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  • Reply 24 of 86
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by winstein2010 View Post



    We are in Illinois, our kids will be getting their own iPads from the school (K-12) next week.

    Since the article is about potential corruption in the LA schools, I'll assume that you meant that Illinois handing out iPads to your goats is equally corrupt.  Not that Illinois is known for corruption or anything.

    Rod Blagojevich

    George Ryan

    Dan Walker

    Otto Kerner

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/30/illinois-governors-in-pri_n_2581182.html

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  • Reply 25 of 86
    rob53 wrote: »
    Do you really think private schools would be better managed or that students would get a better education? Of course some students would but those are already in private schools financed by the 1%'ers. Free public schools in the US are guaranteed by our constitution but as usual are not supported with the kind of assistance they need. It starts with parents who need to do the majority of parenting instead of expecting public schools to do the parenting. Remember, private schools can expel students for any reason and at any time. They aren't held to the same rules and regulations public schools are. As with any public institution, there will be problems, corruption, and things just won't work. This happens in private institutions and corporations as well but we don't always hear about them. As for LA students not being able to read or write, here's the 2013 STAR CST test results. This district has over 400K students. Please compare them to a school district near you.

    http://star.cde.ca.gov/star2013/ViewReport.aspx?ps=true&lstTestYear=2013&lstTestType=C&lstCounty=19&lstDistrict=64733-000&lstSchool=&lstGroup=1&lstSubGroup=1

    There is no right to an education in the US Constitution.

    http://www.cato.org/blog/education-constitution

    You may be thinking of your own state's constitution.
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  • Reply 26 of 86
    apple ][apple ][ Posts: 9,233member

    Many kids today are a bunch of illiterate, little monkeys. Obnoxious, ignorant creatures who lack basic fundamental skills in many areas. The US educational system is pretty pathetic, compared to many other countries in the world. American students are dumb, and they are just getting dumber. An idiocracy type of society is what these kids will end up producing.

     

    I agree with SpamSandwich. Students and their families should be paying for their own computers.

     

    When I was a kid, a long, long time ago, in a galaxy far away, there was one Apple ][ machine in the classroom, that was shared by 35 students!

     

    If every student wants their own computer, then don't those kids have something called parents? Let the damn parents provide for their children. And then they are free to buy whatever they please.

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  • Reply 27 of 86
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by AWilliams87 View Post

     

    To be honest, I can understand their concern. The one thing I did like about Microsoft, personally, was the optional integrated keyboard cover for the Surface. That is something I believe the iPad should of had.


    You're aware that hundreds of models of fully functional, very reasonably priced keyboards are available for the iPad, right? /roll-eyes

     

    (And, sorry to nitpick, but "...should of had"?)

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  • Reply 28 of 86
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Apple ][ View Post

     

    Many kids today are a bunch of illiterate, little monkeys. Obnoxious, ignorant creatures who lack basic fundamental skills in many areas. The US educational system is pretty pathetic, compared to many other countries in the world. American students are dumb, and they are just getting dumber. An idiocracy type of society is what these kids will end up producing.

     

    I agree with SpamSandwich. Students and their families should be paying for their own computers.

     

    When I was a kid, a long, long time ago, in a galaxy far away, there was one Apple ][ machine in the classroom, that was shared by 35 students!

     

    If every student wants their own computer, then don't those kids have something called parents? Let the damn parents provide for their children. And then they are free to buy whatever they please.


    What I find interesting is that the primary technology used to educate people around 1870 (when compulsory education was just being ratified across the U.S.) was the chalk and blackboard. Fast forward 150 years later, and it's still a chalk and blackboard. That's pathetic.

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  • Reply 29 of 86
    apple ][apple ][ Posts: 9,233member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by anantksundaram View Post

     

    You're aware that hundreds of models of fully functional, very reasonably priced keyboards are available for the iPad, right? /roll-eyes

     

    (And, sorry to nitpick, but "...should of had"?)


     

    I was recently on a trip and decided to leave the big iPads at home, so I brought along this, and it worked out pretty well. The keyboard also serves as protection for the iPad mini as it completely covers it.

     

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  • Reply 30 of 86
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by anantksundaram View Post

     

    You're aware that hundreds of models of fully functional, very reasonably priced keyboards are available for the iPad, right? /roll-eyes

     

    (And, sorry to nitpick, but "...should of had"?)


    Yes, I do think they should've had an option of an integrated keyboard cover. I know they are 3rd-party options, but people don't usually pay as much attention to them, especially when purchasing in volume. We know this because the school officials and teachers expressed concern about the iPad lacking a keyboard.

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  • Reply 31 of 86
    r2d2r2d2 Posts: 95member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by anantksundaram View Post

     

    You're aware that hundreds of models of fully functional, very reasonably priced keyboards are available for the iPad, right? /roll-eyes

     


     

    Take your "reasonably priced keyboards" and multiply that by the number of students involved and you'll see that adds up quickly. A couple of million dollars here, a couple of million there - pretty soon you're talking about real money! Makes sense, in this case, to buy something that includes a keyboard at no extra cost. /unroll eyes

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  • Reply 32 of 86
    Yes, heaven forbid that people in charge of educating our children, closely communicate with companies responsible for the best and brightest technology advancements in the last decade. We much rather have them wasting time with companies that repeatedly deliver technology flops %u2013 because our children only deserve the best.
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  • Reply 33 of 86
    apple ][apple ][ Posts: 9,233member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by AWilliams87 View Post

     

    What I find interesting is that the primary technology used to educate people around 1870 (when compulsory education was just being ratified across the U.S.) was the chalk and blackboard. Fast forward 150 years later, and it's still a chalk and blackboard. That's pathetic.


     

    While I am a big fan of technology, I don't feel that technology is always a good thing. It depends.

     

    Chalk and a blackboard was good enough for kids in 1870 and it's good enough for kids in 2014.

     

    Too many kids today use technology as a crutch, to make up for their complete ignorance in other areas. Let the kids work out a math problem on a blackboard, not using any electronic aids. Let the damn kids learn how to write using a pen and paper. Let the damn kids learn how to spell without using autocorrect.

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  • Reply 34 of 86
    rogifanrogifan Posts: 10,669member
    r2d2 wrote: »
    Take your "reasonably priced keyboards" and multiply that by the number of students involved and you'll see that adds up quickly. A couple of million dollars here, a couple of million there - pretty soon you're talking about real money! Makes sense, in this case, to buy something that includes a keyboard at no extra cost. /unroll eyes
    Why couldn't Apple work something out where a 3rd party option could be included at no extra cost?
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  • Reply 35 of 86
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by AWilliams87 View Post

     

    Yes, I do think they should've had an option of an integrated keyboard cover. I know they are 3rd-party options, but people don't usually pay as much attention to them, especially when purchasing in volume. We know this because the school officials and teachers expressed concern about the iPad lacking a keyboard.


     

    'Don't pay much attention'?! They're idiots, then.

     

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by R2D2 View Post

     

    Take your "reasonably priced keyboards" and multiply that by the number of students involved and you'll see that adds up quickly. A couple of million dollars here, a couple of million there - pretty soon you're talking about real money! Makes sense, in this case, to buy something that includes a keyboard at no extra cost. /unroll eyes


    LOL. Have you checked to see if the Microsoft Surface keyboards are free? And if not, what they cost? /groan

     

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Apple ][ View Post

     

    I was recently on a trip and decided to leave the big iPads at home, so I brought along this, and it worked out pretty well. The keyboard also serves as protection for the iPad mini as it completely covers it.

     


    I have a similar superbly designed one for my iPad Mini, from Logitech. $80.

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  • Reply 36 of 86
    r2d2r2d2 Posts: 95member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Rogifan View Post





    Why couldn't Apple work something out where a 3rd party option could be included at no extra cost?

     

    Don't know why, but it looks like they didn't. I'm sure it came down to money.

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  • Reply 37 of 86
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Apple ][ View Post

     

     

    While I am a big fan of technology, I don't feel that technology is always a good thing. It depends.

     

    Chalk and a blackboard was good enough for kids in 1870 and it's good enough for kids in 2014.

     

    Too many kids today use technology as a crutch, to make up for their complete ignorance in other areas. Let the kids work out a math problem on a blackboard, not using any electronic aids. Let the damn kids learn how to write using a pen and paper. Let the damn kids learn how to spell without using autocorrect.


    Well then you could use that same argument everywhere. A pitchfork was good enough for 1870s farmers, and it's good enough now. The only difference is my example is clearly absurd because we see the advances modern farming like the combined harvester and genetic engineering of crops. There isn't an alternative scenario with schooling; all we see is chalk and blackboard so it's easy to dismiss potential advances in education because they don't exist and we can't examine the benefits.

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  • Reply 38 of 86
    r2d2r2d2 Posts: 95member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by anantksundaram View Post

     

    LOL. Have you checked to see if the Microsoft Surface keyboards are free? And if not, what they cost? /groan

     


    Let me repeat for those who missed it the first time -

     

    "Makes sense, in this case, to buy something that includes a keyboard at no extra cost."

     

    /Louder groan

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  • Reply 39 of 86
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,722member
    http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-ipads-schools-20140101-story.html#page=1
    The Perris Union High School District is paying $344 apiece for a Chromebook for every student. Nearby, Riverside Unified purchased a variety of devices, including the Kindle Fire and iPad Mini, for as low as $150 each. In San Diego Unified, some students are using a $200 tablet.

    The Los Angeles Unified School District, however, is paying $768 per device for its students, teachers and administrators, making it one of the nation's most expensive technology programs. The reason: L.A. Unified selected a relatively costly product — a higher-end Apple iPad — and also paid for a new math and English curriculum installed on the tablets.
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  • Reply 40 of 86
    jfc1138jfc1138 Posts: 3,090member
    Communication doesn't equate to "ties".
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